Poor being Turned Away from Free Cancer Screenings

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Low-income women nationwide are being turnedaway or put on long waiting lists for free cancer screenings.

The American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network says the economy has forced cutbacks in screenings at a time when more people are uninsured.

The society surveyed programs for July 2008 through April 2009 and found that state budget strains are forcing some programs to reject people who would otherwise qualify for free mammograms and Pap smears.

In some cases women are screened by other programs or referred to different providers.

New York used to screen women of all ages. This year's budget crunch has forced them to focus on those at highest risk and exclude women younger than 50.

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